AIM To explore the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein 2 (E2) in the induction of apoptosis. METHODS A carboxyterminal truncated E2 (E2-661) was transiently expressed in several cultured mammalian cell lines or stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. Cell proliferation was assessed by 3H thymidine uptake. Apoptosis was examined by Hoechst 33258 staining, flow c...

Cognitive Biases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 658 Designer Error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 659 Systems Approaches to Error. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . .659 Errors and Cognitive Biases-Implications for Design. .659 Human Expertise 659 Descriptive Models. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Small nuclear RNA and associated lupus autoantigens activate B cells and dendritic cells via Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7); therefore, TLR-7 may represent a potential therapeutic target in lupus. MRL lpr mice were administered an injection of either saline or synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides with immunoregulatory sequences (IRS) that specifically block signaling via TLR-7 (IRS 661) or via TLR-7 a...

Hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 contains 18 conserved cysteines predicted to form nine disulfide pairs. In this study, a comprehensive cysteine-alanine mutagenesis scan of all 18 cysteine residues was performed in E1E2-pseudotyped retroviruses (HCVpp) and recombinant E2 receptor-binding domain (E2 residues 384 to 661 [E2(661)]). All 18 cysteine residues were absolutely required for HCVpp entr...

Introduction: Fracture healing is a complex process that is responsible for forming a fracture callus to stabilize the site of injury while producing new bone. Delayed fracture healing or the development of non-union as a result of failed fracture healing is a major clinical concern effecting ~10% of all treated fractures. Recent studies have shown that RAP-661, an antagonist of Bone Morphogene...

Successful embryo implantation requires synchronous development and communication between the blastocyst and the endometrium, however the mechanisms of communication in humans are virtually unknown. Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRs) are present in bodily fluids and secreted by cells in culture. We have identified that human blastocysts differentially secrete miRs in a pattern a...

The literature and the practice about knowledge in organizations is characterized by the use of very diverse terminology, where concepts such as organizational learning (OL), knowledge management (KM), and intellectual capital (IC) are often employed but rarely discussed together. Recognizing that no single overarching framework has been proposed to clear up this conceptual confusion, this pape...

Cell polarization is necessary for directed migration and leukocyte recruitment to inflamed tissues. Recent progress has been made in defining the molecular mechanisms that regulate chemoattractant-induced cell polarity during chemotaxis, including the contribution of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] synthesis at the leading...